Evangeline Parish 4-H kicks off with new school year

The beginning of the new school year brings many opportunities for students through the 4-H program. This year could be one of your best years in school if you decide to join a 4-H club. 4-H has something for everyone.
Our parish 4-H theme for this year is “#iam4-H.” Each month club meetings will be held in each school. During each club meeting parish agents Todd Fontenot and Tina Guillory will present an educational program that is interesting and informative.
This year the program effort will be on healthy lifestyles lessons with a focus on the awareness of food and where it comes from; farm to table; processed foods vs. fresh foods; new/different foods in addition to our everyday choices; and quick and easy healthy food recipes. The school clubs will also be conducting a monthly service learning project as a means of connecting the 4-H curriculum and the community with student learning in a way that improves both the student and the community.
This year our state service project is “Foster Care in Louisiana.” In addition to the service learning component, 4-H members are encouraged to select project activities based on what they want to do: travel to interesting places, share experiences with friends and family, make new friends, win awards and scholarships, learn to raise animals and plants, prepare foods, care for pets, go camping, collect insects, learn to sew, develop hunting/shooting skills, go fishing and much more. 4-H is fun!
To join 4-H you should attend the first meeting, which will be held in September at your school. The 4-H agents and club leaders will help you get enrolled. The 4-H program is open to all students attending school in the parish that are nine years of age by January 1, of 2015 and those that will not pass their 20th birthday on January 1, 2016. If you cannot enroll in your school’s 4-H club, you can still take part by enrolling as a member-at-large. If you are interested in being a member-at-large or have any questions about the 4-H program, call 337-363-5647 or come by the 4-H office in Ville Platte. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All 4-H members should be enrolled by October 23, 2015.